The tree is down, and decorations put away. We thoroughly enjoyed the magic and business of the holiday season... but are back to reality and the business of our every day lives. As much as I love traveling, and love Christmas vacation, it's nice to be back on a schedule, and be back into our normal swing of things. I love being back in my house, with the kids having their own bed, and definitely love all 4 of us, not sharing a room anymore. I will truly miss however, spending every day with Sterling. The boys and I LOVED having him home all throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. HOW LUCKY ARE WE!?!? He was dreading going back as much as we were. We also miss seeing our family (Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins) daily as well.
This week was long and busy for our little family.
Monday:We went to the gym, (the boys usually do GREAT in the Kids Care Center), went to IKEA and just looked around. Ryan kept telling me he was going to be such a "good boy"... because he knew that IKEA has ice cream and cinnamon rolls, and he was hoping for one at the end of our shopping excursion. (He earned it, and both Ryan and Boston were excellent boys). Sterling started his last Northern Utah rotation today. He'll be working as a Pharmacy Intern at Salt Lake Regional Hospital for the next 6 weeks.
Tuesday: We stayed at home for a good majority of the day. I took come online Dental Hygiene CE courses, and had to do some paperwork for medical insurance, while Sterling had to be at hospital rotations. He got done with rotations, and went to go donate plasma. While he was at Plasma, I took the boys, and went grocery shopping.
Wednesday: We went to the gym. I am training to run the St. George Marathon in October, and am signed up to run a 1/2 marathon in April. So... I try to get running time in, as much as possible. The boys really like the kids club at the gym, and it gives them great opportunities to go play with other kids. It also gives me a good outlet, and way to work out... when the ground in Salt Lake is covered in ice and snow, and the weather is barely above 32 degrees some days. We also went shopping later on that day. We are on the hunt for clothes for Kenzie and Nate's wedding, so we hit up Burlington, and TJ Maxx. Sterling was at Rotations during the day, and works at night. (He is such a good sport. He usually puts in about a 60-70 hr work week! 40 at Rotations (unpaid) and 20-30 at Smith's (paid). He never complains, and I'm so grateful he's such a hard worker.
Thursday: I was able to be at home with the boys in the morning time, and worked in the afternoon at the Dental Office. Sterling had an early morning, and long day. He watched a double bipass surgery all day, and worked at Smith's Pharmacy that night. Work was great for me, and I love being at that office. I had arranged for a babysitter to come watch the boys, and she canceled on me last minute. Luckily for me, I am blessed with THEEEE GREATEST friends. Ashley Thalman brought Houston over, and she watched Boston and Ryan for me. It was also nice for the boys to have a play date with one of their friends.
Friday: It was a cold and windy day in SLC, which called for a "chill" day to stay inside and have fun. We got our our queen-sized air mattress, and I let the kids bounce on it in the front room. Ryan had the time of his life. He thought it was a mini trampoline, and Boston was so happy he was tall enough to climb up and bounce on it too. We popped popcorn and had movie marathons. It was a great day. Sterling got home, and he took me on a date. We called Sophie over to babysit, and Sterling and I went to Smash-Burger (we had a giftcard). We came home and had a "family hidden talent show" with the boys, and had a ball that night.
Saturday: Sterling worked a 12 hour shift at the Pharmacy, and I went to the temple early Saturday morning. I am so grateful that Sterling stayed home to take care of Ryan, and allowed me to go. Ster went to work, and the kids and I ran to the gym. After running 6 miles I came home, and put the kids down for a nap. Jaycee and Brady came up north this weekend, to hang out with some of Brady's brothers who were in town. They took a brothers ski trip, and so Jaycee wanted to hang out with us while he was gone. I drove the boys down to Orem, and we hung out the aunt Jaycee for the day. We shopped, ate, and had the best time together. I'm so grateful for sisters.
Sunday: We had a good day at church. Ryan LOVES going to nursery, and asks all sacrament meeting long... "cass? peeeeease?" haha! We love our family time together on Sunday. We had a great afternoon of spending time with one another, playing with our boys, doing some journaling, and FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa Jolley.
We had a really great week, and although this post may seem mundane for some, it is our reality, and someday it'll be fun to look back on what our "reality" was at this point in our lives. :)
Ryan is 27 months now, and is getting so funny. His imagination is developing, as well as his sense of humor. He will say phrases like "C'mon light, turn green! You kiddin' me?" haha! (when we're sitting at a red light!) He also knows "green means go" and "red means stop" and "yellow means caution". He's getting really great at memorizing a few scriptures. We usually work on a scripture for a week or two, and by the end... he knows it. He also loves playing "hide and seek" lately... and will ask you to play for at least a 1/2 hour. His favorite foods are... pretty much anything I make. The kid isn't picky at all. He wears size 5 diapers, and tells us occasionally when he needs to go "potty". He wears 2T-3T shirts, and 2T pants. Size 6 shoes.
Boston is ALMOST 12 months! He's crawling like crazy, standing on his own, and scales along the furniture.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Sunday, January 3, 2016
2015 Recap
January:
-Boston Kimball Coons 5lbs 12oz 19in (born Jan. 31 at 3:00pm)
-Sterling continued to work at Smith's Pharmacy
-Megan continued to be a stay at home mom, and work a few times a month for Dr. Blackhurst at Utah Dental Centers.
February:
-Grandma Blake (Boston's and Ryan's Great Grandma) came to help for a week while Boston was in the NICU, and Ryan was at home, and Sterling was at school, and my mom was still in school! Grandma and Grandpa Jolley came up to help/visit 2 weekends, and Grandma and Grandpa Coons came to visit one weekend. It was a month of many visitors, and lots of help.
March:
-Boston's Blessing (we had Both sets of Grandparents, Great Grandma Jolley, Great Grandma Blake, Kathy, Stef and Beau's family, Jeff and RaCail's family, Jaycee and Brady, Spencer)
April:
-Megan, Ryan, and Boston took our first road trip together, and went to St. George to celebrate Easter. (Sterling had to stay in SLC due to work and rotations, but had the missionaries over to watch General Conference at our house)
May:
-Sterling finished up his 2nd year of Pharmacy School
-We spent a majority of our Summer at the Baseball park, watching the Salt Lake Bee's play. It became one of our favorite Summer activities.
June:
-Celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary
-Sterling started his 3rd and FINAL year of Pharmacy School!!! (doing 6 week rotations at various hospitals/pharmacies)
-Nate came up to SLC to take our family Pictures
July:
-Went to St. George for the 4th of July (celebrated the Blake family reunion)
-Went to St. George for the 24th of July (celebrated the Coons family reunion)
August:
-Sterling turned 27
-Megan Surprised Sterling with a Birthday trip to Lagoon. We went back the next week and took the boys to Lagoon/Lagoon-A-Beach. Ryan loved it.
-We used our Pass of all Passes, and went to Seven Peaks water park. We spent the entire day, wore ourselves out, and had a blast.
September:
-Megan turned 28
October:
-Kenzie returned home from her mission in Philadelphia PA (Oct. 12th)
-Ryan turned 2 years old (Oct. 23)
-Ryan had his first dental check up, and had NO cavities.
November:
-Sterling had SIX WEEKS off of school!!! He decided to schedule his "off block" rotation during the Holiday time... so we got to spend almost every waking hour with him... and we loved EVERY MINUTE!!!!
-We spent Thanksgiving in St. George with family. We ate lunch with the Jolley family (at Brad and Christy's house) and dinner with the Coons family (with Spencer, Katie, and Carly's family).
-Sterling got called as the Stake Young Men's 1st Counselor (in preparation to train the new Stake YM President when Sterling leaves)
-Megan got called again as the RS 2nd counselor of their ward.
December:
-Nate and McKenzie got engaged
-We spent almost a whole week in St. George for Christmas! We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Jolley, but also spent a lot of time with the Coons family. It was a great week, with lots of family, and lots of memories.
We have had a fantastic year, and have been extremely blessed. We look forward to the upcoming year, and all the wonderful blessings in store for our family. God is so great.
-Boston Kimball Coons 5lbs 12oz 19in (born Jan. 31 at 3:00pm)
-Sterling continued to work at Smith's Pharmacy
-Megan continued to be a stay at home mom, and work a few times a month for Dr. Blackhurst at Utah Dental Centers.
February:
-Grandma Blake (Boston's and Ryan's Great Grandma) came to help for a week while Boston was in the NICU, and Ryan was at home, and Sterling was at school, and my mom was still in school! Grandma and Grandpa Jolley came up to help/visit 2 weekends, and Grandma and Grandpa Coons came to visit one weekend. It was a month of many visitors, and lots of help.
March:
-Boston's Blessing (we had Both sets of Grandparents, Great Grandma Jolley, Great Grandma Blake, Kathy, Stef and Beau's family, Jeff and RaCail's family, Jaycee and Brady, Spencer)
April:
-Megan, Ryan, and Boston took our first road trip together, and went to St. George to celebrate Easter. (Sterling had to stay in SLC due to work and rotations, but had the missionaries over to watch General Conference at our house)
May:
-Sterling finished up his 2nd year of Pharmacy School
-We spent a majority of our Summer at the Baseball park, watching the Salt Lake Bee's play. It became one of our favorite Summer activities.
June:
-Celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary
-Sterling started his 3rd and FINAL year of Pharmacy School!!! (doing 6 week rotations at various hospitals/pharmacies)
-Nate came up to SLC to take our family Pictures
July:
-Went to St. George for the 4th of July (celebrated the Blake family reunion)
-Went to St. George for the 24th of July (celebrated the Coons family reunion)
August:
-Sterling turned 27
-Megan Surprised Sterling with a Birthday trip to Lagoon. We went back the next week and took the boys to Lagoon/Lagoon-A-Beach. Ryan loved it.
-We used our Pass of all Passes, and went to Seven Peaks water park. We spent the entire day, wore ourselves out, and had a blast.
September:
-Megan turned 28
October:
-Kenzie returned home from her mission in Philadelphia PA (Oct. 12th)
-Ryan turned 2 years old (Oct. 23)
-Ryan had his first dental check up, and had NO cavities.
November:
-Sterling had SIX WEEKS off of school!!! He decided to schedule his "off block" rotation during the Holiday time... so we got to spend almost every waking hour with him... and we loved EVERY MINUTE!!!!
-We spent Thanksgiving in St. George with family. We ate lunch with the Jolley family (at Brad and Christy's house) and dinner with the Coons family (with Spencer, Katie, and Carly's family).
-Sterling got called as the Stake Young Men's 1st Counselor (in preparation to train the new Stake YM President when Sterling leaves)
-Megan got called again as the RS 2nd counselor of their ward.
December:
-Nate and McKenzie got engaged
-We spent almost a whole week in St. George for Christmas! We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Jolley, but also spent a lot of time with the Coons family. It was a great week, with lots of family, and lots of memories.
We have had a fantastic year, and have been extremely blessed. We look forward to the upcoming year, and all the wonderful blessings in store for our family. God is so great.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Getting back into the swing of things...
I have received a lot of promptings lately to continue our family history. It always seems that life gets so busy, and there are MANY things (good and bad) to fill our time. I however don't want to forget this sweet time of life, and these wonderful moments that fill our lives every day!!!
Since I last blogged (a year and a half ago)... a LOT of things about our family have changed.
*Sterling got accepted into Pharmacy school (Dec. 2012)
*Sterling's Mom and Dad received their mission call to Madrid Spain (Jan. 2013)
*We found out that we were pregnant with a sweet little boy (Feb. 2013)
*I took 5 National Boards for Dental Hygiene & by prayers, fasting & hard work, passed them all. (Jan-March 2013)
*We announced our exciting baby news to our families Mothers Day (May 2013)
*I graduated from Dixie State with my AAS in Dental Hygiene, and became a RDH (May 2013)
*Sterling's sister Carly and her 5 kids moved to St. George (June 2013)
*Sterling's parent's postponed their mission to help Carly (June 2013)
*We moved from St. George to Downtown Salt Lake City (July 2013)
*Sterling started his first year of Pharmacy School & had his White Coat Ceremony (Aug. 2013)
*Sterling got a wonderful job working at Smiths Pharmacy, as a Pharmacy Intern (Aug. 2013)
*Sterling turned 25 (Aug. 2013)
*I turned 26 (Sept. 2013)
*Sterling was called to be the Sunday School President in our ward
*I got called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency
*WE ADDED THE GREATEST BLESSING TO OUR LIFE... (he was born a month early) and named him Ryan Sterling Coons (Oct. 2013)
*We had our first Halloween with a child (Oct. 2013)
*So many family members and friends came to help and visit us after Ryan was born (Nov. 2013)
*Thanksgiving was spent in St. George with Family (Nov. 2013)
*Ryan was given a name and beautiful blessing by Sterling, the first Sunday in Dec. (Dec. 2013)
*My Sister McKenzie got her mission call (Philadelphia PA)
*We were blessed enough to go back to St. George for Christmas, and spend the Holiday with our family! (Dec. 2013)
*THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP OUR INCREDIBLE 2013 YEAR... IN A NUTSHELL!
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2014 was great to us too!!! It has been a year filled with continuing changes, blessings, hardships, and adjustments to our lives... but we can honestly say, we've never been happier. Each stage of our life seems to get crazier, harder, yet all together... SO MUCH BETTER! Some key moments from our 2014 thus far include:
*Adjusting to our new life as parents... less sleep, more worry, WAY more excitement, learning more what unconditional love is, being so proud at little accomplishments and milestones... (Jan-Feb 2014)
*I went to St. George for McKenzie's temple endowment (Feb. 2014)
*McKenzie left on her mission (April 2014)
*We celebrated our first Easter with Ryan in St. George, and spend time with family (April 2014)
*Ryan had a traumatic suffocation incident & rushed to Primary Children's Hospital (May 2014)
*Sterling FINISHED HIS FIRST YEAR OF PHARMACY SCHOOL (May 2014)
*Sterling started a 6 week Pharmacy Rotation in St. George (at Stapley's, and Dixie Regional MC) (June 2014)
*We moved to St. George for the Summer (living with Sterling's parents) (June-July 2014)
*We found out that we were PREGNANT with our second little miracle. (June 2014)
*Moved back to SLC (July 2014)
*Spent almost the ENTIRE month of August as a family, and went on outings almost daily!!! We soaked up every minute of dad's "free time" off of school... the month of August. (Aug. 2014)
*Sterling turned 26 (Aug. 2014)
*I turned 27 (Sept. 2014)
*Sterling got called to be the Stake Young Men's President (Sept. 2014)
*We announced "THE NEWS" of our expanding little family to our families (Oct. 2014)
*Ryan Celebrated his 1st Birthday (Oct. 2014)
*Halloween was celebrated by a Dr. Suess theme (Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, Thing 2) (Oct. 2014)
*We can't wait for Thanksgiving, to be able to spend time with our family in St. George (Nov. 2014)
In a short but sweet recap... this has been "our life" for the past year and a half! We have been blessed to have MANY visitors come up and see us while we've been here in SLC (especially Grandma and Grandpa Jolley) and love the time we get to spend with family and friends. One of our favorite "get-aways" is to go to St. George, and see our sweet family! 300 miles seems far at times... but then we take a step back and realize how blessed we are to be within driving distance of the people we love most. We are alive, healthy, well, and are smitten with our hectic, and happy life. Our family is growing, and I'm absolutely LOVING being outnumbered by these handsome, sweet, and energetic boys. We hope to be more consistent with updating this blog, so we have a history and memories to look back on!
Since I last blogged (a year and a half ago)... a LOT of things about our family have changed.
*Sterling got accepted into Pharmacy school (Dec. 2012)
*Sterling's Mom and Dad received their mission call to Madrid Spain (Jan. 2013)
*We found out that we were pregnant with a sweet little boy (Feb. 2013)
*I took 5 National Boards for Dental Hygiene & by prayers, fasting & hard work, passed them all. (Jan-March 2013)
*We announced our exciting baby news to our families Mothers Day (May 2013)
*I graduated from Dixie State with my AAS in Dental Hygiene, and became a RDH (May 2013)
*Sterling's sister Carly and her 5 kids moved to St. George (June 2013)
*Sterling's parent's postponed their mission to help Carly (June 2013)
*We moved from St. George to Downtown Salt Lake City (July 2013)
*Sterling started his first year of Pharmacy School & had his White Coat Ceremony (Aug. 2013)
*Sterling got a wonderful job working at Smiths Pharmacy, as a Pharmacy Intern (Aug. 2013)
*Sterling turned 25 (Aug. 2013)
*I turned 26 (Sept. 2013)
*Sterling was called to be the Sunday School President in our ward
*I got called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency
*WE ADDED THE GREATEST BLESSING TO OUR LIFE... (he was born a month early) and named him Ryan Sterling Coons (Oct. 2013)
*We had our first Halloween with a child (Oct. 2013)
*So many family members and friends came to help and visit us after Ryan was born (Nov. 2013)
*Thanksgiving was spent in St. George with Family (Nov. 2013)
*Ryan was given a name and beautiful blessing by Sterling, the first Sunday in Dec. (Dec. 2013)
*My Sister McKenzie got her mission call (Philadelphia PA)
*We were blessed enough to go back to St. George for Christmas, and spend the Holiday with our family! (Dec. 2013)
*THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP OUR INCREDIBLE 2013 YEAR... IN A NUTSHELL!
2014 was great to us too!!! It has been a year filled with continuing changes, blessings, hardships, and adjustments to our lives... but we can honestly say, we've never been happier. Each stage of our life seems to get crazier, harder, yet all together... SO MUCH BETTER! Some key moments from our 2014 thus far include:
*Adjusting to our new life as parents... less sleep, more worry, WAY more excitement, learning more what unconditional love is, being so proud at little accomplishments and milestones... (Jan-Feb 2014)
*I went to St. George for McKenzie's temple endowment (Feb. 2014)
*McKenzie left on her mission (April 2014)
*We celebrated our first Easter with Ryan in St. George, and spend time with family (April 2014)
*Ryan had a traumatic suffocation incident & rushed to Primary Children's Hospital (May 2014)
*Sterling FINISHED HIS FIRST YEAR OF PHARMACY SCHOOL (May 2014)
*Sterling started a 6 week Pharmacy Rotation in St. George (at Stapley's, and Dixie Regional MC) (June 2014)
*We moved to St. George for the Summer (living with Sterling's parents) (June-July 2014)
*We found out that we were PREGNANT with our second little miracle. (June 2014)
*Moved back to SLC (July 2014)
*Spent almost the ENTIRE month of August as a family, and went on outings almost daily!!! We soaked up every minute of dad's "free time" off of school... the month of August. (Aug. 2014)
*Sterling turned 26 (Aug. 2014)
*I turned 27 (Sept. 2014)
*Sterling got called to be the Stake Young Men's President (Sept. 2014)
*We announced "THE NEWS" of our expanding little family to our families (Oct. 2014)
*Ryan Celebrated his 1st Birthday (Oct. 2014)
*Halloween was celebrated by a Dr. Suess theme (Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, Thing 2) (Oct. 2014)
*We can't wait for Thanksgiving, to be able to spend time with our family in St. George (Nov. 2014)
In a short but sweet recap... this has been "our life" for the past year and a half! We have been blessed to have MANY visitors come up and see us while we've been here in SLC (especially Grandma and Grandpa Jolley) and love the time we get to spend with family and friends. One of our favorite "get-aways" is to go to St. George, and see our sweet family! 300 miles seems far at times... but then we take a step back and realize how blessed we are to be within driving distance of the people we love most. We are alive, healthy, well, and are smitten with our hectic, and happy life. Our family is growing, and I'm absolutely LOVING being outnumbered by these handsome, sweet, and energetic boys. We hope to be more consistent with updating this blog, so we have a history and memories to look back on!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Coons Christmas Conference 2013
This year started off in such a fun way for our family! My father-in-law retired from working with IHC as a hospital administrator and Regional Vice President... and as a fun surprise... (well... it started off as a surprise, but then Sterling's mom clued him in on what was about to happen) all of his kids and their families flew in to be with him for his retirement/birthday on January 1st. So... of course... we held a Coons Christmas Conference to kick off the new year!
It was a week full of fun, food, activities, LOTS of nieces and nephews, and good times had by all! We took the kids over to the Children's Discovery Museum in downtown Salt Lake, and they had the TIME OF THEIR LIVES! That place is even way cool for adults! You can tell... we really enjoyed ourselves! :)
Next stop was Build-a-Bear... and all the grandkids got to pick out a bear to take home!
We rang in the New year right, with a dinner for all of the adults, at a "Coons Favorite" restaurant... The Roof. It's at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and it overlooks the Salt Lake Temple! We all gathered together in a secluded room, and had a little celebration for Chris. All of the kids each put something together that reminded them of their dad, and we all shared thoughts, memories, and testimony! It was a night to be remembered, and such a memorable experience for me! I love being a part of this family! It's easy to see why Sterling is such an incredible guy!
All you can eat Creme Brule... he was in HEAVEN!!!
I was in heaven too! ;)
Bucca de Beppo is also another Coons top spot to eat... and of course we dined there one night... in the Pope Room! (sorry so blurry)
We were also able to get some updated Family Pictures snapped of the whole group, while we were together! It's hard to keep the pictures updated... because our family is CONSTANTLY growing!!!! Being married to the baby of the family... I married into a busy family with a lot of fun changes always happening! :) 2 of my sisters in-law just announced they were pregnant on this trip, and 1 is due in just a couple of weeks! So in less than 9 months... even these new pictures will be outdated by 3 new babies!!!! :) We love it though! So exciting! Congrats to Mallie, Heather, and Carly!
It was a fun time to spend with family, and to celebrate my amazing father in law! He is such a great man, and has raised an incredible family! He will truly leave a legacy, and has impacted the lives of people for years to come! We loved seeing all of Sterling's siblings and their families, and just wish we all lived closer!
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